Trump Win Praise, But No Movements on Trade in Japan

US President Donald Trump received a warm welcome in Tokyo, with lavish praise from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but the two leaders failed to announce any significant progress in their ongoing trade talks during Trump's recent visit. The cordial exchange between the two leaders was marked by mutual flattery, with Abe hailing Trump as a "very important" and "strong" leader, while Trump reciprocated by describing Abe as a "great" and "tremendous" prime minister.Despite the warm rhetoric, however, the two leaders appeared to paper over differences on trade, with no concrete agreements or concessions announced. The lack of progress on trade issues is likely to be seen as a disappointment by some, given the significant trade imbalance between the US and Japan, which has long been a point of contention between the two countries.Trump has repeatedly called out Japan for what he perceives as unfair trade practices, and has threatened to impose tariffs on Japanese imports if a more favorable deal is not reached. Abe, meanwhile, has sought to defend Japan's trade policies and push for greater cooperation on areas such as defense and security.The visit did, however, mark a significant moment of diplomatic theater, with Trump and Abe engaging in a series of symbolic gestures, including a lavish dinner at a high-end restaurant and a round of golf. The two leaders also discussed a range of regional security issues, including the threat posed by North Korea, and vowed to continue cooperating on areas such as counter-terrorism and non-proliferation.In a statement, the White House said that the two leaders had "agreed to continue working together" on trade issues, but provided few details on what this might entail. For now, it appears that the trade tensions between the US and Japan will continue to simmer, with both sides digging in for what promises to be a long and difficult negotiation.